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SDR Transforms Amateur Radio:
from
electronicdesign.com
on
August 26, 2008
Website:
http://electronicdesign.com/Articles/Print.cfm?ArticleID=19439
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SDR Transforms Amateur Radio:
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SDR Transforms Amateur Radio:
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by N4CQR on August 27, 2008
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I just ain't ready to take the SDR plunge.
About the article, I thought: ”That means the core hardware is a processor running software that can emulate hardware functions." just sounded sort of humorous in a way.
Sort of like saying, this machine uses water power to create a mechanical wave action to move a toy boat.
C r a i g
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RE: SDR Transforms Amateur Radio:
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by W8JI on August 27, 2008
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SDR hasn't transformed ham radio. It is just a different way to build a radio, better for some things and worse for other things. It has only changed a small aspect of amateur radio for a small number of people.
The best radios for many of us are still analog, the best filters are still analog filters. DSP filters are cheaper, but they still lack the dynamic range of good analog filters. That's why the best radios, like the Elecraft K3, use a crystal filter for primary selectivity and a DSP system just to round things off. The Orion does the same.
All of the DSP only radios can't hold a candle to the better analog filter radios when it comes to receiver dynamics.
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SDR Transforms Amateur Radio:
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by KG6YV on August 27, 2008
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This was a very interesting article. SDR is an emerging technology as yet not very mature. However, I remember the first solid state transmitters, the first PLL vfo's, etc, etc. So, in my personal opinion,
the SDR technology will improve over time and eventually become the norm rather than the exception.
After all when is the last time you saw a horse and buggy on the freeway?
Now, before I invite a host of bashers, I will point out that while I own a Yaesu FT-2000 I also bought an ICOM 735 last month to use as a portable rig. The biggest reason is that I didn't like the IC7000/FaesuFT897/Kenwood480 for this application. I prefer something with real switches and knobs that doesn't require a handi-card or reading the manual each time I adjust the noise blanker.
I have one foot in the 21st century and one in 1986....
Oh well,
Greg
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RE: SDR Transforms Amateur Radio:
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by N8VB on August 27, 2008
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<All of the DSP only radios can't hold a candle to the better analog filter radios when it comes to receiver dynamics.>
W8JI:
This is not true anymore. Unfortunately, you are behind the times on the current state of SDR technology.
Phil N8VB
--
Phil Covington
Software Radio Laboratory LLC
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.srl-llc.com
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RE: SDR Transforms Amateur Radio:
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by K5UJ on August 27, 2008
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<<<SDR hasn't transformed ham radio.>>>
Maybe because you and all your pals aren't operating them but ask anyone who has one and he'll probably tell you it has completely changed his enjoyment of ham radio.
<<<It is just a different way to build a radio, better for some things and worse for other things.>>>
Even if this is true it doesn't justify a devaluation of the concept.
<<<It has only changed a small aspect of amateur radio for a small number of people.>>>
Assuming this is true, which is debatable, this doesn't make SDR somehow less worthy. What it is more apt to mean is that there are a large number of hams unable to grasp the significance of SDR radio design and capability because their radio interest is confined to tapping out messages to each other using radio telegraph code with Drake twins.
<<<The best radios for many of us are still analog, the best filters are still analog filters. DSP filters are cheaper, but they still lack the dynamic range of good analog filters. That's why the best radios, like the Elecraft K3, use a crystal filter for primary selectivity and a DSP system just to round things off. The Orion does the same.>>>
Decisions involving radio design for hams can be based on sell-ability of the design, i.e. most hams will probably not purchase anything they don't understand such as direct analog to digital RF conversion. But they get, and are comfortable with IFs and crystal filters. These may not be the best designs but they are the designs that manufacturers (think, "roofing filter") can hype and sell.
<<<All of the DSP only radios can't hold a candle to the better analog filter radios when it comes to receiver dynamics. >>>
Did you read the article? You sound like someone who thinks the latest DSP rig is the TS870.
73
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RE: SDR Transforms Amateur Radio:
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by W4CNG on August 27, 2008
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I have 4 Analog Radio's and 1 SDR. I like them all, but I do not expect the Analog Radio's to get any better doing what they do well, than the SDR (Jupiter) does now or into the future, including new band limits and new bands, 60 meters comes to mind here.
Steve W4CNG
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RE: SDR Transforms Amateur Radio:
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by KB0R on August 28, 2008
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So if I use a top notch Analog SSB receiver and pass the 3kHz wide audio off to the soundcard in my computer for demodulation (RTTY,PSK,CW,etc), does this fit Software Defined Radio?
Vice Versa, if I generate a signal (RTTY,PSK,CW,etc) in my computer, pump it out through the sound card and into the microphone input of a top notch Analog SSB transmitter, is that Software Defined Radio?
73,
Larry KBØR
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RE: SDR Transforms Amateur Radio:
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by N8VB on August 29, 2008
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There are different SDR classifications:
<http://f4dan.free.fr/sdr_class_eng.html>
and various implementations:
<http://f4dan.free.fr/sdr_eng.html>
73 Phil N8VB
--
Phil Covington
Software Radio Laboratory LLC
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.srl-llc.com
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SDR Transforms Amateur Radio:
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by KB7PST on August 29, 2008
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I have an RF-Space SDR-IQ. I can watch a 192khz swath of bandwidth in real time, listen to two distinct signals in that bandwidth at the same time, and if I really want, I can record the entire 192khz to disk and go back through it again to listen to any signals I want. All this from a little USB powered box that can be slipped into a shirt pocket for under $500.
The decoding is all in software, so if I want a specific kind of filter, I simply write it in. In the Spectravue software that comes with the little black box, that means I just punch numbers into a dialog box. I don't have to go buy a 2.2khz filter, I just type 0 and 2200hz into a box, and presto chango, it's changed.
The real kicker, is that if you have a powerful enough computer, you can use software that decodes an entire CW subband in real time. That changes how contesting is done, doesn't it?
And for the most part, you don't have to give up your old HF rig if you don't want to. Have the best of both worlds - tap the IF from your HF rig and decode it with the SDR box. Take your TS-940SAT and give it the performance and features of an Icom 7800 for significantly less cost.
These boxes and others like them are decoding information from the Mars landers and orbiters, they are providing information about the rate of spin of our galaxy, and listening to the sounds from distant pulsars. A big paradigm shift from ragchewing on CW, isn't it? Take a look at some of the things being done at http://www.rfspace.com/BLOG/BLOG.html
"The Radio Amateur is PROGRESSIVE...with knowledge abreast of science, a well-built and efficient station and operation above reproach."
(I'm not a representative of RFSpace, or an employee there. I just love their little black box, and other brands do just as well.)
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SDR Transforms Amateur Radio:
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by AC7NA on August 30, 2008
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It is clear from comments here and on other forums that there are still many Hams that confuse SDR w/ CAT conrolled rigs (I saw reference to the Jupiter, which is NOT SDR).
I've built several of the SoftRock series of radios and there is no better deal in amatuer radio...$40 for an outstanding radio that is upgradable and has impressive performance specs. The constantly improving software makes these kits an easy and affordable ways for hams to experiment with leading edge technology.
Brian AC7NA
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RE: SDR Transforms Amateur Radio:
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by KD8K on September 1, 2008
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What is or is not an SDR can be a subject of debate, but there is an interesting article on this very subject in the September QST. In this article, it specifically mentions the IC-7800 and the K3 (and I would also include the Jupiter in this category) as SDR's. These radio's all have a substantial amount of the signal processing (detection and AGC) done by software using a processor internal to the radio, and can have that software upgraded through firmware upgrades. For those reason's the article states that they can be considered "SDR's". This article also made a comparison between software controlled radio's and software defined radios.
73,
John, KD8K
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